This layout in On30 was originally built by Geoff Bishop and Garth Ponsonby, the latter of whom is now one of our members and who kindly donated it to the club.
The Coeur d’Alene Railway is an O scale narrow gauge model, set in the state of Idaho, USA in the 1930s. It depicts how a line might have been built to serve the Coeur d’Alene Lake area, via a depot at the small town of Rockford Bay, incorporating a ferry terminal with tugboat and barge. Although fairly remote, the area has some mining activities, and a coal loading facility is included.
The scale of the model, at 1/4 inch to the foot (or 1:48) follows American O scale standards, using Peco narrow gauge track. Rolling stock is mostly Bachmann, with some locomotives also from other suppliers. Stock has been lettered using bespoke dry transfers from Blackham Transfers. Wiring is simple, with traditional methods used.
Structures on the layout are mostly scratchbuilt, often using timber or plywood; a couple use modified kits, whilst the large factory uses Design Preservation plastic modules. The passenger depot has a ply base, then prototype (scale) timber planking was added; details such as doors and windows, chimneys and roof shingles are by Grandt Line. Backscenes are by Walthers, and the tugboat is an anonymous (probably Chinese) model which nevertheless fits the requirement.
Traffic on the CdA Rly is primarily freight – lumber to the saw mill, and other log products, hauled by typical logging line geared locomotives such as Shays and Climaxes. Empty coal cars come in, are loaded, and then taken out by the larger locos, including a Mallet originally from the Uintah Railroad. Freight cars come in and out from the outside world via the ferry, and a limited passenger service is provided.